Volvo Cars and Luminar, a start-up in the development of core sensing technology for autonomous vehicles, are demonstrating the most advanced Lidar sensor and perception capabilities to date at this year’s Automobility LA trade show in Los Angeles.

The ongoing development of Lidar technology, which uses pulsed laser signals to detect objects, is a crucial element in creating safe autonomous cars. It allows autonomous cars to navigate safely in complex traffic environments and at higher speeds by providing these cars with reliable long-range perception capabilities.

The new perception capabilities being developed by Luminar in partnership with Volvo Cars make it possible for the system to detect human poses including individual limbs such as arms and legs, a level of detail not previously possible with this type of sensor. The new technology is also able to detect objects at a range of up to 250 meters, a much further range than any Lidar technology currently available.

»Autonomous technology will take driving safely to a new level, beyond human limitations. This promise to improve safety is why Volvo Cars wants to be a leader in autonomous drive. Ultimately, the technology will also create new benefits for our customers and society as a whole«, said Henrik Green, senior vice president for research and development at Volvo Cars. »Luminar shares our ambition in making those benefits a reality and this new perception technology is an important next step in that process.«